Online Learning Blog & Updates
Tips, Strategies, and Information
from the Department of Online Learning.
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Summer 2021 Blog Posts
A new box on the D2L Homepage provides a consolidated list of up-coming activities in all courses.
The box lists Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes-Exams, and Content items that have a due date or an end date within the next two weeks. It also lists overdue work from the previous 12 weeks.
The widget can also be added to individual courses. Read the article for more details.
D2L Quizzes and Exams can be set to "Pending Evaluation" after a student has completed the assessment. This option keeps the score from becoming published, when the assessment has questions that need to be graded manually.
Instructors can also use D2L Quiz tools to quickly identify quizzes, exams, and questions that need to be graded. This new status label helps ensure that quizzes and exams with manually-graded questions are not left incomplete.
The appearance of the "New Assignment Editor" will become the default view in the D2L Assignment Grading area. Currently, instructors can switch between the new and original assignment view, but the new view will become the only option in the Assignment grading area.
Instructors will be able to use either the New or Original Assignment Editor until January 2022. Then, the New Assignment view will be the only option for the Assignment Editor as well.
Coming Soon: New Discussion Grading View
Starting in Sept. 2021, instructors will have the option to use the New Discussion Grader, which will have the same appearance as the New Assignment Grader.
The New Discussion Grader will have a split screen with student posts on the left and the rubric and feedback box on the right.
The New Discussion Grader will become the default and only view in January 2022. More information will be provided when this update becomes active.
The Rich Text Editor has an updated look and more tools. The Rich Text Editor is used on Content Pages, Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Exams, and other text-entry areas on D2L.
D2L has discontinued the "Instructions" box from its Quizzes tool. Existing text from the Instructions box has been moved to the "Description" box.
Use the Description box from now on to provide instructions and other quiz information.
More Special Access Options on Quizzes
The "Special Access" tool - which is used to assign exam accommodations to students - now has additional options for extended time.
After selecting "Enforced Time Limit," instructors can:
Assign a New Time (such as 180 min instead of 120)
Create a Time Multiplier (such as 1.5x or 2x)
Add Additional Time (such as an extra 60 minutes)
Click here for full information about setting special access.
Coming Soon: Discussion @ Mentions
Students and instructors will be able to tag each other (within a class) on a D2L Discussions using @FirstLastName. Students who are tagged will get an alert, and this may encourage them to return to the discussion and continue the conversation.
More information will be provided when this update becomes active.
Options for accessibility dates, posting dates, and due dates on D2L Discussions will change in Sept. 2021.
Dates will be grouped into a single "Availability" section, and there will be a separate section for display options.
More information will be provided when this update becomes active.
Spring 2021 Online Learning Tips
Self-Assessments are ungraded practice quizzes (under the Assessments tab on D2L) that can provide students instant feedback so they can reflect on their learning and adjust how they study.
Embed files from Google Drive without opening a separate window or using drag-and-drop.
Use D2L Content Page Templates to design attractive and engaging content pages.
Instructions for enabling Respondus LockDown Browser for Chromebooks.
Brief overview of how to use the Discussion Grading Tool to grade a discussion on D2L, and strategies for assessing discussion posts.
How to create a customized greeting for each student in the D2L Announcement.
Brief overview of the New Assignment Editor, a description of differences between the New and Original Editors, and instructions on how to change it back to the Original Editor.
Fall 2020 Online Learning Tips
Extend the Course End Date and Due Dates on Exams and Assignments so students with "incomplete" grades can have access and submit materials beyond the original date.
Provide an automated response to students, colleagues, and others who may email you during a holiday, personal vacation, conference trip, or other non-working or out-of-office day.
Use a Content Web Page (instead of a link) to embed (display) a video within D2L and to provide information about it.
Announcements are the first thing a student sees in the D2L course, and they are very useful for providing simple information and directions. Read this article to learn how to create announcements.
D2L Quizzes can provide useful feedback to students by identifying areas of strength and weakness and suggestions for future learning. Learn how to incorporate feedback into a D2L Quiz.
D2L Quizzes provide data about student performance that can help you evaluate student learning, collect data for program assessment, and reflect on your teaching.
Promote a concept-based approach to online instruction by avoiding sub-modules, creating a learning sequence, and using content web pages to introduce links and embed videos.
Promote ease of navigation in the online course by posting all content within the D2L module.
A brief overview of how to connect Discussions, Quizzes, Exams, and Assignments to the D2L Gradebook.
A brief overview of the difference between a Discussion Forum and a Discussion Topic, and what's the most appropriate use for each one.
Brief overview of how to setup, record, and share a recorded class session with the Google Meet video conferencing platform.
Brief overview of D2L Virtual Classroom and Google Meet. Article also includes a few strategies for sharing large videos.